Buoyant electric cable



Oct. l5, 1946. H. L, BEEDE" BUOYANT ELECTRIC CABLE RUBBE im oR Pmsr/c Rosso-R Russo-R .fx/N

INVENTOR O( maf/L., Y v ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 15, 1946 BUOYANT` ELECTRIC CABLE Harry L. Beedc, Fort Lee, N. J., assignor to The Okonite-Callender Cable Company, Incorporated, Paterson, N. JL, a. corporation of New Jersey Application February 6, 1943, Serial No. 474,932

9` Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in buoyant electric cables, namely, that type of electric cable wherein the weight to volume ratio is such as to enable the same to iioat in a medium suchA as sea water.

One dimculty experienced with cables of this type as heretofore constructed has been the tendency of the center or core members to crush during cabling processing, and remaining that Way, and one of the" objects of this invention is to provide a construction embodying a new and improved type of center or core member wherein this diiilculty is overcome.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of 'one embodiment of the invention in sectional' elevation;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2` of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of'the invention in sectional elevation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View of still another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 545 ofFig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 4 of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first of all to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2: 2 designates a plasticcylindrical member of cellulose nitrate, for example, hermetically sealed by plastic headsy Il. Sealing of the heads in place may be accomplished by the use of a cement or by using a solvent for thek material of the cylinder and heads. The member 2` is internally braced, by at least twodiscs 5, one at each end of the cylinder, to increase the resistance of' the cylinder to crushing from an externally appliedA force, as, for instance, in cabling during theV processA of manufacture of the cable. The discs 6 may be of wood, of plywood, or other suitable material.

The cells thusv provided are disposed* end to end along the cable center, adjacent cells being spaced by spacers 8. These spacers may be inflated rubber cylinders or other construction but have been shown as composed of' cellular rubber, in which event each spacer is preferablyk provided with a gas-impervious skin I0. The Wires composing the cable conductor I2 may be stranded directly about the assembly of' alternatev cells and spacersor a exible sheath la of' rubber' or rubberlike-material may first bey applied about the assembly, as'shown in the drawings, and the conductor I2 applied about this sheath.

About theQconductcrl I2 a nonmetallic, flexible, Waterproof-sheath |6,such as a sheath ofrubber.; isiappliedeandsvnlcan,iZfd;llJIlBlel- When the inner sheath I4 above referred to is employed it will be appreciated that there will be a bondingI of the spacers and sheath during the vulcanizing of theY outer and inner sheaths, so that a dam against the passage of water along the interior of the cable is provided.

While the center or core cells have been described as being internally reinforced, further resistance to crushing may be provided by maintaining the cells under internal pressure, say or 100' pounds per square inch.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, plastic cylinders 2, equipped With hermetically sealed heads 4f and with reinforcing discs or braces 6 are provided, as in Fig. 1. In this embodiment of the invention, however, each cell thus provided is cemented or otherwise held Within a tight fitting plywood cylinder I8. This provides a construction which is admirably suited to buoyant cables, inasmuch as the plastic cells may readily be hermetically sealed permanently While by bracing these cells internally and enclosing them in the plywood cylinder I8, a construction is provided in which likelihood of crushing, either in cabling or with the cable in service, is reduced to the minimum. Spacers 8. are employed between adjacent cells andthe cable conductor I2 is stranded about this assembly direct, or the assembly may Iirst be enclosed in sheath I4. ldesi'gnates the outer non-metallic sheath which immediately surrounds the cable conductor as explained in connection with Fig. l.

In the embodiment' of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. I have provided a construction in which I employ center cells or core members of' plywood which are coated or covered and/or laminated with metal film orioil, metallized paper, Bakelite paper or Bakelite film, etc. Such a celll or core member will not corrode readily, Ais highly resistant to Water and moisture and has high crushing resistance. In this latter connection the cells or coremembers may be braced' internally, if desired, and may be kept under fairly high internal pressure, say '75 to 100 pounds' per square inch gauge.

In order that the iiexibility of the cable be main-tained, these center or' core members are separated from each other by resi-lient spacers or separators.

The conductor of thecableis stranded about the assembly of core cells and spacers andA a non-metallic. sheath surrounds the conductor.

As will be understood, the weight to volume ratio of. thecable is: such as; tov enable. ther same warmt .l

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5: 20 designates a plywood cylinder provided with plywood heads 22 hermetically sealed in place. The cell thus provided is completely enclosed in a metal lm or foil 24 or this lm may be metallized paper, Bakelite paper or Bakelite nlm. The primary function of this film is to render the cell water and moistureproof. If desired, the cell may be internally reinforced although without such bracing a plywood cell such as described is extremely highly y resistant to crushing forces. These cells are distributed along the center of the cable, adjacent cells being spaced or separated by spacers or separators 8. These spacers are resilient and may be composed of cellular rubber, for example, as illustrated, or they may be in the form of inflated rubber cylinders, or they may be made up of other materials. When cellular rubber is employed it is preferable to enclose each spacer in a gas impervious rubber skin I0.

The wires constituting the cable conductor I2 may be stranded immediately about the assembly of cells and spacers, or, as illustrated, the cells and spacers may be enclosed in a rubber sheath I4 and the conductor stranded about this sheath.

About the conductor I2 is a non-metallic, Ilexible, waterproof sheath I6 of rubber or rubberlike material.

The cable after assembly is subjected to vulcanization and when employing the rubber spacers and the rubber sheath I4, above referred to, these two elements bond to each other in this operation so that a seal is provided at the periphery of each spacer against the passage of water along the interior of the cable.

The construction above described is ideal for buoyant cables. The plywood cells employed for the center or core members are highly resistant to crushing so that they are not deformed in the manufacture of the cable and not easily crushed when the cable is in operation.

It will be appreciated also that by enclosing each cell in a metal film, such as metal foil or metallized paper, or in a film of a phenolic condensation product, such as Bakelite, or a Bakelite paper, entry of Water or moisture to the cell is precluded and corrosion eliminated.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises a plywood cylinder 26 equipped with heads 28 hermetically sealed in place. Intermedlate at least one pair of adjacent plies of the wood constituting the cylinder and heads are films or layers 30 of metal foil, metallized paper, a Bakelite film or a Bakelite paper. If desired, in addition the cell may be enclosed in a film of any of the materials just mentioned as explained in connection with Fig. 1.

The core cells are separated from each other by spacers 8 which may be cellular rubber, inflated rubber cylinders, etc., as mentioned in connection with Fig. 1.

The conductor I2 which is surrounded by water impervious sheath I6 may be stranded immediately about .the assembly of core cells and spacers, or these elements may rst be enclosed in rubberlike sheath I4 and the conductor stranded about this sheath.

It will be appreciated that in al1 embodiments of-my invention herein illustrated anddescribed I have provided a construction wherein the center or core cells are not only highly resistant to moisture, but highly resistant to crushing forces so...t.hat. no difficulty will be experienced with smashing of the. cellsout ni. shane theep 4 plication of the conductor or with the cable in use.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described within the purview of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a buoyant electric cable, the combination of a plurality of hermetically sealed, plastic center members or cells, braced internally, with transversely extending wooden discs, spacers between adjacent cylinders, a conductor stranded about said cells and spacers, and an enclosing, non-metallic, water-impervious, flexible sheath, the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the same to oat in a medium such as sea water.

2. In a buoyant electric cable, the combination of a plurality of hermetically sealed, plastic center members or cells, braced internally, with transversely extending plywood discs, resilient spacers intermediate adjacent cells, a rubber sheath enclosing said cells and spacers, a cable conductor stranded about said sheath, and an outer non-metallic, water-impervious, flexible, rubber-like sheath, the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the same to float in a medium such as sea Water.

3. In a buoyant electric cable, the combination of a plurality of center members or cells each comprising a sealed plastic cylinder, braced internally, with transversely extending plywood discs, cellular rubber spacers intermediate adjacent cells, a rubber sheath enclosing said cells and spacers, a cable conductor stranded about said sheath, and an outer non-metallic, water-impervious, flexible, rubber-like sheath, the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the same to oat in a medium such as sea water,

4. In a buoyant electric cable in which the weight to volume ratio of the cable is such as to enable the cable to float in a medium such as sea Water, the combination of a center comprising a plurality of hermetically sealed plastic cells, each braced internally with wooden discs extending transversely of the cell, a tight fitting plywood cylinder about the exterior of each cell, spacers of cellular rubber intermediate adjacent cells, a stranded conductor about the assembly of cells and spacers, and an outer vulcanized rubber sheath.

5. In an electric cable wherein the weight to volume ratio cf the cable is such as to enable the same to float in a medium such as sea water, the combination oi a center for the cable comprising a plurality of hermetically sealed cells separated from each other by rubber-like spacers, each cell comprising a cylindrical member of plastic material braced internally with wooden discs, said cells extending lengthwise of the cable and said discs transversely of the cable, a cable conductor stranded about the cells and spacers, and a vulcanizcd rubber sheath about the conductor.

6. In an electric cable wherein the weight-to volume ratio of the cable is such as to enable the to float in a medium such as sea '-yatei, the combination of a center for the cable comprising a plurality oi hermeticallyssealed cellsscparated from each other by rubber-likespacersieach; Cell comprising a cylindrical member of plastic material braced internally with wooden discs, a tightl fitting plywood cylinder about eachY Cell, said cells extendinglengthWise of the cable and said discs transversely ci the .,6able4a1-cable.. eenduidig stranded about the cells and spacers, and a vulcanized rubber sheath about the conductor.

7. In a buoyant electric cable, the combination of hermetically sealed plastic cells, a plywood cylinder tting over each cell, resilient spacers between adjacent cells, a conductor stranded about said cells and spacers, and an enclosing non-metallic, water-impervious, flexible sheath, the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the same to float in sea water.

8. In a buoyant electric cable the combination of hermetically sealed, internally braced, plastic cells, a plywood cylinder tting over each cell, resilient spacers between adjacent cells, a conductor stranded about said cells and spacers, and an enclosing non-metallic, water-impervious, flexible sheath, the Weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the same to float in sea water.

9. In a buoyant electric cable in which the Weight to volume ratio of the cable is such as to enable the cable to oat in a medium such as sea water, the combination of a center comprising a plurality of hermetically sealed plastic cells, a plywood cylinder fitting over each cell, spacers between adjacent cells, a sheath of rubber-like material about said assembly of cells and spacers, a conductor stranded about said sheath, and an outer enclosing non-metallic water-impervious, exible sheath.

HARRY L. BEEDE. 

